U.S. Offers Biofuel Refinery Grants

The Wall Street Journal
DECEMBER 22, 2008, 9:56 P.M. ET

By IAN TALLEY
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy on Monday said it is making available as much as $200 million for advanced biofuel pilot refineries and expects to make awards to between five and 12 projects over the next six years.

The department said that if deployed on a large scale, the commercial facilities could produce volumes that would contribute significantly to the new national renewable-fuels mandate.
"This funding opportunity will look for the most promising technologies that can advance the potential of renewable biomass as a resource for second-generation transportation biofuels," said John Mizroch, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

"The Department of Energy will select breakthrough integrated biorefinery projects that have technical and economic performance data at the bench or pilot scale to prove they are ready to move a step closer toward commercial readiness," he said.

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